"After reading all of your input, I feel like my training with Ruby is still in an earlier stage than I thought. "

It's only a few weeks. If you read the dog-reactive threads, you know that the average real solid change in strange-dog reactivity (outside) took about 18 months (obviously, this is wildly varied). But we haven't read about any work on that, outside the dog's area of reactivity, like ob and focus. Are you marker training?

As for the house dogs, yes, I do think that you may have been holding back progress a bit with attention to who gets what, and perhaps too much insistence right now on all-together-for-long-periods for this stage. But if you expected to relax after a few weeks, you were in error, adding a reactive dog to a pack including a pushy one.

"I have read the desensitization links and continue to try these methods but it feels like I have stalled out in her progression. She has improved a lot but she will still become nervous about her packmate when they simply don't provoke that reaction at all. "

Think of this for now as two projects. The strange dogs outside are the desensitizing project.

Yes, it will filter down somewhat as she learns that you are her infallible protector and leader, but dogs in her pack -- that's a different thing.


This is all JMO, after many years with many dogs.


Most very experienced people will advise strenuously that an inexperienced (or even experienced) owner NOT have a pack of three. Pack dynamics are completely different when you add a third dog. You have a lot of vigilance and work ahead of you.

PS

BTW, I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm trying to say that you are expecting a lot very soon out of a situation that might not have been the wisest one to create. It's not time to be discouraged and think you've wasted a few weeks. It's time to roll up your sleeves.

Good afternoon Connie,

"HEY!" is one of my favorite 'commands' or focusing shouts. It is the reminder 'HEY you mutts, remember me, and remember I don't like that stuff, huh?'

Sometimes we want to be liked by our dogs as we train them but that is a want and not a need.

We train today for the dog we want tomorrow, and if we don't do a good job, we don't get what we want.

a week and a half seems like a pretty short time to expect dramatic changes.

If you are seeing improvement, keep up what you're doing.

If I were you, I would eliminate "our dominant male" from your vocabulary and mindset. If you expect these dogs to peacefully coexist then you cannot permit them to express their (admittedly natural) tendencies to show dominance and submission to each other.

When the female shows fear, IMO, you should not coddle it, or reward it. Touching her, soothing her, etc. reinforces the behavior (the display of fear). In essence, you've told her that indeed there is something to fear.

Instead, try ignoring her display of fear (as well as the "thing" that is causing it.) And offer the touches and words only when she is calm.


ETA: "Ruby spends the majority of her time (when she's not nervous about him) being submissive with him: belly up during play or giving his tonsils a good wash."

While this may be perfectly "normal" dog-on-dog instinct, it's doing you no favors as a pack leader. She is self-reinforcing her own anxiety with this overabundance of deference. And as a leader, you DON'T want this kind of hierarchy do deal with.

Put Ruby on a leash. Tie it to your belt, all day, every day, except when she's in her crate. When she behaves the way you want her to (calm, confident, focused on YOU), reward her with praise and touching and treats. Everything else can be ignored or avoided because she is tied to you, and you are in control.

I agree. All dogs are equal.

No bullying. No dominance. No submission. My way or my way.

BTW, if any of this sounds like macho (or machette) dog-owner posturing, that's not it.

Dogs are pack animals. Someone has to be the boss.

When dogs live in our houses with us humans, it has to be the human.

It's a huge oversight, IMO, when owners don't adhere to this. Dogs need to know this. They need to have clarity about who is in charge.

Without that crystal clarity, their unease can range (depending on the dog) from a perception that they are on their own (and have to protect themselves -- or submit -- to stay safe) to a perception that there's shakiness at the top and either room for or even a need for their own power play.

JMO!



What Tracy said:

"If I were you, I would eliminate "our dominant male" from your vocabulary and mindset. If you expect these dogs to peacefully coexist then you cannot permit them to express their (admittedly natural) tendencies to show dominance and submission to each other. "